U.S. Senate voted for the membership of North Macedonia in NATO. 30 Congressmen upheld the decision, and two were against it, Defense News reported.
"The Russians hate this sort of thing, they hate an increase in the size of NATO, but we want the Europeans to be encouraged", Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said.
"NATO member states and North Macedonia signed an agreement clearing the way for membership after the country officially changed its name from “Macedonia” in February. Greece had blocked its neighbor’s NATO membership since 2008, saying the use of “Macedonia” implied territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name and usurped ancient Greek heritage", the outlet wrote.
In July, Ukraine and North Macedonia signed the agreement on a bilateral visa-free regime. The citizens of both countries enjoy the right to stay in either Ukraine or North Macedonia from 90 to 180 days without the need to process a visa.